Thermoplastic adhesive and laminated fabric comprising same



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE THERMOPLASTIC ADHESIVE AND LAMI- NATED FABRIC COMPRISING SAME Ralph M. Freydberg, New York, N. Y., assignor' to Acme Backing Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y., a corporation of New York No Drawing. Application March 17, 1937,

Serial No. 131,411

3 Claims. (Cl. 106-22) This invention relates to adhesives and more not discolor when exposed to ordinary heat and/or especially to laminated fabrics intersecured by light or the light of the sun. thermoplastic adhesives. The adhesive may be applied as a stiifener to a In general, it is an object of the invention to single layer of fabricor as an adhesive and stif- 5 provide a device of the-character described which fener between two layers, or it may be impreg- 5 will efllciently perform the purposes for which it nated into one layer and used as an interlining is intended, which is simple and economical of et ee Ot e ay s to be joined to Such other construction, which can be expeditiously, conlayers under the action of heat and pressure. The veniently and safely manipulated, and which can adhesive and product described herein withstands be readily manufactured. successive laundering, dry cleaning, and ironing 10 Another object of the invention is to provide an processes. adhesive which may be used in laminating and The fabrics used should be such that the adcoating fabrics and to give a flexible permanent hesive may be impregnated between and/or into stillness to interlinings, fabrics and backings; the fibers of the fabric. In the case of an interwhich is not affected by moisture, normal temlining, the cloth used'may be heavy or light, de- 16 peratures, nor especially by the exposure to light; pen up n the type of 910th With which the which is but slightly and desirably affected by interlining s t b us d. C tt s e n y temperatures at which clothes are usually be laminated with the adhesive about to be dewashed; which is somewhat and desirably affectsc b d.

ed, temporarily, by temperatures whi h l th The thermoplastic composition herein described 20 attain d ing ironing; which gives such a permais a derivative or a mixture of derivatives of nent flexible stillness to clothes that starchdoes acrylic acid- These derivatives y be D 3- not need to'be used during washing; which is t merized. The derivatives of methacrylic acid undesirably affected by the usual dry cleaning have been found to b particularly Suitable e p fluids or procedures; which is adapted to impregcially w y. a p l d. a. m thyl mate fabri without discolormg t and w methacrylate. A preferred formula is as follows 25 if desired, may be given a color. Example Other objects of the invention will in part be Parts by weight obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. polymerized t ve of methacrylic The invention accordingly comprises a product acid 100 30 possessin the features, p operties and the rela- Dibutyl phthalate (or other plasticizer) 10 tion of components which will be exemplified in Chlorinated bb r 10 to 40 the product hereinafter described and the see of the application of whlchlwm be indicated The polymerized derivative of methacrylic acid the claims which is sold under the trade name of Lucite 35 For a fuller undertanding of the nature and has been found to be entirely satisfactory. The

ob-ects of the invention, f r h proportions listed above may be varied within to following detailed ig g fifigg f ould be had rather wide limits, e. g. chlorinated rubber may Attempts have been made heretofore to stiflen be but one part by weight single layers of fabric and to laminate a plurality The abve ingredients would be mixed by '40 v tlon to heat and stirring that is, in a heated of fabric layers by the use of thermoplastic ad- 380 hesives. Various adhesives have been usedhavmixer which would produce paste-like commg various properties and for various purposes, position, applied hot to the fabric by calender rollers. depending upon the kind of final product desired. 1 1 These stiffened and la nated fabrics have not The dibutyl phthaate acts as a plast cizer and b 1 the chlorinated rubber as a negative catalyst. een en Ire satisfactory For example there Other known plasticizers may be substituted in has been one great drawback in that when they whole or in part for the dibutyl phtha1ate have been exposed to heat and/or to light they Compositions 'made in accordance with the. have, a t a t becomediscolored- It above formulae and embodying the essential fea- 50 vious that fabrics which discolor cannot be used tures theregf begin t soften t Substantially 3 fo a n D D y have been most and firmly unite layers of fabric when subunsuitable'for white collars, cuffs, .and shirt jected to a-temperature of about 300 F. and

fronts. The present invention provides an adpressure. They are insoluble in straight chain v hesive and a final laminated'product with does hydrocarbons, alcohols, ethers, naphtha, gasoline,

benzine, or boiling water. They are soluble in aromatic hydrocarbons with small amounts of alcohols and in lower ketone and ester solvents.

It will be understood that when the composition is used on a lining'or backing fabric, as specified, it firmly unites said lining or backing to other fabrics, when the same are subjected to pressure and heat at a temperature of about 300 R, which is about the usual temperature of laundering irons. The lining or backing is dry when subjected to the heat and pressure, and the composition is softened and made tacky by the heat so that it adheres to the other fabrics under pressure.

It is to be understood that it is not essential to the use of the composition that it can be applied to a lining or backing fabric, as it can be interposed directly between two or more layers of fabric to unite them and form a substantially unitary laminated fabric possessing the characteristics above mentioned.

A laminated fabric embodying the said composition and united thereby may be laundered and dry-cleaned without separation of the layers. The composition softens at the usual temperature of laundering fluids or at the boiling point of water, but retains its adhesive qualities and maintains the layers united. The water or washing fluids may pass through the laminated fabric thoroughly to cleanse the same, but

when, the wet or damp fabrics are subjected to heat and pressure, such as the action of an iron, as soon as the moisture is expelled the fabric regains its original appearance and characteristics above pointed out.

The compound may be colored by adding the'reto mineral fillers or high strength organic colors. Of course, the addition of such fillers or colors may vary the viscosity of the compound, but they do not affect its permanent qualities.

Fabrics bonded together with the above adhesive hold their bonded condition at any temperature normally possible in a laundering process, but at normal ironing temperatures the bond is softened somewhat and in sufficient amount for the laminated fabric to obtain the benefit of the ironing.

By coating and/or impregnating a cloth of such character as to present a mesh readily ca- 'pable of impregnation to permit the compound -to flow into the interstices, the adhesive me-.

dium or compound is so thoroughly embedded in the fibers of the fabric and in the interstices that it is possible for the bond between the fabrics to be slightly loosened during the launand 1 part chlorinated rubber.

dering process, without, however, causing the layers of fabric to become actually detached one from the other. This permits the laundering fluids to pass through the articles made from the laminated fabric during a washing or drycleaning process, thoroughly to cleanse the articles, and then, as above pointed out, when the articles are subjected .to heat and pressure during an ironing operation, the bond is again tightly formed, restoring the fabric to its original appearance and characteristics.

Laminated fabrics adhesively secured by the above adhesive may be washed and dry-cleaned as many times as desired. They may be exposed to heat and/or to sunlight for an indefinite period without changing their color. They are flexibly stiff and most suitable for collars, cuffs, shirt bosoms, and the like. If the fabric .is originally made without creases or wrinkles, it will 'not show creases or wrinkles even after many washings and ironings. Due to the normal stiffness of the laminated fabric, it is not necessary to use starch in the washing thereof.

Since certain changes may be made in the above product and different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim I comprising a sheet of material impregnated with a thermoplastic adhesive which maintains its adhesive qualities at temperatures below 212 F., comprising 100 parts of a polymerized derivative of methacrylic acid, 10 parts dibutyl phthalate,

RALEfI-I M. FREYDBERG. 

